Oh my god. Where did Yuri go?
I swear, I only looked away for one second. One. Second. And poof! he's gone. Like smoke. Like he was never even here. When I find him, I'm actually slapping that rooster-headed, chicken-brained idiot. Who even tells someone they can just ditch me like this? Ugh.
And if Kuya Angelo finds out I'm here…
Alone!!!
I'm dead. Completely dead. Especially here, at Drew's. I can already hear the lecture forming in his throat. And Kiefer… oh god. No. No, no, no. That boy is going to explode like a firecracker.
I reach for my phone. Should I check? Maybe he called. Maybe he didn't. Maybe I'm overthinking. Should I even forgive Yuri? I mean… I've been wanting us to go official for ages. But every time I try to tell him, someone or something always interrupts.
But I love him. I know I love him. And I think he probably feels the same.
I take a deep breath. Okay, okay… If Kiefer finds out and goes furious, I can always pull the forbidden trick. Hehe. Nobody needs to know. And if things get worse… flirty mode. Just pretend everything's fine. Works half the time anyway.
As I'm drowning in my own thoughts, Drew calls out.
"Hey, Jay!"
"Yeah?" I yell back, still staring at my phone. Should I throw it out of frustration? Nah, it's the only expensive thing I have.
"Where's Yuri?"
OH MY GOD. I've been looking for him too! How am I supposed to know?!
"I–I don't know where he is," I stammer.
"Well… okay. I'll just call your… boyfriend."
Boyfriend??
"Wh-wait… Kiefer???"
"WHAT? No! We're not even together!" Ugh, the nerve. I mean he's also an ulupong.
"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND," I yell, waving my hands like he can actually hear my soul screaming.
"I didn't even say a name," he says, grinning like the little brat he is.
"Keep grinning… I'll pull your teeth out," I snap.
"Seriously, don't call him or he might as well beat you up too," I add.
Okay seriously, I do have a point. Everyone wants me to stay away from Drew. Especially Kiefer. And if they find me here, they'll beat the hell out of him.
Just then… my phone rings.
Oh. p*taa.
God dayum it.
It's Kuya.
I'm so done.
I can't cut the call — he'll suspect me.
What do I do?
My phone keeps buzzing and I'm just standing there confused whether to answer or not. The name label itself is like a warning:
"DEVIL calling."
I swallow hard, put on my fakest voice ever, and answer.
"Hello, Kuyaaa…" I drag it out so I sound, you know, alive and not having a meltdown.
"Where are you?" he asks, calm but firm.
My soul leaves my body for a second. I look around Drew's place like I can magically transform it into something innocent.
"I'm at… the… ice cream store," I say, lying like a world-class Olympic athlete. "Getting, uh… ice cream. I was craving ice cream."
"Who are you with?"
Just then I feel someone behind me. I turn around and see—
OH HOLY MOTHER OF SEVENTY WHITE SHEEP.
No no no NO he cannot be here.
Ohhh Drew is so done for. Well, me too.
"I'll call you later, bye," I say to Kuya, panicking.
But he says—
"You haven't answered my question. Who are you there with?"
"K… k… Kiefer," I respond, stammering.
The king of ulupongs' eyes look mad. His nose is breathing out fire.
I hear Kuya muttering curses under his breath probably because I'm with Kiefer. But he still manages to keep a calm voice and says:
"Okay. Be back home by 7."
Grumpy Kuya
"Okaayyyyyyy—"
He was gonna say more…
But I hung up. I let out a breath so hard it might've moved the Philippines two centimeters to the left.
Then I remember.
Yuri.
Could Kiefer have seen him?
Then it all comes back to me — flashing memories of the hitlist.
"Jay," a voice calls out.
I know that voice.
I look up at him.
He has a strong, mad-but-calm expression.
Tsk. Handsom— I mean UGLY.
"Jay," he calls out again.
"What?" I call back.
"We're leaving. And you better prepare your explanation."
Didn't Kiefer say he had work to do? Whatever.
"Wait, lemme first say bye to Drew and his family," I say as he walks off.
But instead of replying, he just keeps walking.
Did he just ignore me?
Well I can do that too.
Sometime later, in the car
I keep looking at him but he doesn't even look at me.
He's mad.
Really mad.
I'm sorry, okay? I couldn't help it. I needed to hear Drew's explanation too.
Just then I look out the window and realize… we're not going home. I don't know this route.
Another kidnapping??
"Oi, Kiefer," I call out.
No response.
"Oi, Kiefer."
"Keeeifeeer. Keeifieeerrr." I tap his shoulder.
He finally responds. "Mhmm."
Seriously? I did all that just for a mhmm?
God.
"Where are we going? This is not the way home. Kuya's gonna get mad," I say.
"You already lied to Angelo about being with me, so there's no use."
Nice. You have a brain too. I'm still tryna find mine.
"Okay umm… but why are you mad at me?"
He doesn't respond. Ugh, useless. I just turn and look out the window. After like 10 minutes, the car stops.
FINALLY.
He taps my shoulder.
"Jay, Jay," he calls out.
"WHAT?" I snap back.
"Let's talk."
"Well yeah that's what I've been tryna do! But YOU'RE JUST IGNORING ME AND NOW YOU WANT ME TO TALK WHEN YOU WANT TO, AND THEN JUST IGNORE ME?? HUH?? WHAT AM I, YOUR BARBIE DOLL?!" I yell.
He bows his head down.
"Sorry."
Sorry my face.
Before I could say anything, he continues,
"I just wanted you to explain… why you went there without telling anyone. And worst of all—you were with Yuri."
AHA. I KNEW IT.
He's not mad… he's JEALOUS.
Of YURI???
Boy, please. Yuri is not the one I love.
"It's okay," I manage to say.
"Could you please explain, Jay?" he asks, looking straight into my eyes with that soft stare that makes you spill everything.
Dayum it.
So I start spilling everything about Drew.
His face changed expressions when I told him how much debt his parents left him.
"Well why didn't he tell us about any of this?"
"Because he was scared, Kiefer. We have to understand this. Maybe… you could forgive him now?"
"Forgiving people is probably easy for you, but not really for me," he mutters. "But I'll think about it."
"Thank youuu," I say happily, hugging him. He startles at first but then hugs me back.
We stay in that warm embrace for so long until he says,
"I could stay like this forever."
Me too
"Kiefer," I call out.
"Yes, my queen," he answers.
Does he WANT me to melt into chocolate??
I'm hungry, bro.
"I'm hungry," I say.
"Then eat me."
OH THAT BRATTY-FACED IDIOT.
I couldn't even respond. My face turned tomato red.
He slowly pulls away, puts his hand under my chin, rubs my cheek with his thumb and says,
"Why is my wife blushing?"
Oh NOOO.
I try pushing him away but he doesn't let go.
"Kiefer, let go of me. I'm hungry," I add.
"First give me my kiss."
"Your kiss?"
"Wanna kiss my fist?" I snap.
He giggles at first.
"What? What's so funny?" I say.
Then his giggles turn into full-on laughter.
He's REALLY enjoying this.
Then I get an idea.
I quickly turn back to him and say,
"If you buy me food, then you can have your kiss."
His face instantly lights up.
He buckles his seatbelt and starts driving like a man on a mission.
"We're going to the BEST restaurant here," he announces.